Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980 - 1989 is a best of release by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, containing a selection of songs originally recorded for their first eight albums (including Live After Death).

The album was released in conjunction with the band's Somewhere Back In Time World Tour to allow new fans to listen to a selection of the band's material that was played on the tour. The cover artwork by Derek Riggs features the Pharaoh Eddie monument from Powerslave and Cyborg Eddie from Somewhere in Time.

A number of tracks were taken from the band's 1985 live album, Live After Death, because the band preferred to use recordings which featured current Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson rather than Paul Di'Anno, who sang on their first two studio releases.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	^[2]
AllMusic	^[3]
Classic Rock	9/10^[4]
Kerrang!	5/5^[5]
Metal Hammer	9/10^[6]
Rocksound	8/10^[7]

Reviews for the compilation were generally positive, with Kerrang! commenting that "metal collections don't come much more solid than this."^[5] Classic Rock deemed it "a relentless, 70-minute crowd pleaser marathon," containing "timeless anthems that still make the adrenalin surge and the sinews stiffen after all these years."^[4] Metal Hammer praised it for being "a reminder of why Iron Maiden became the most important band on the planet back in the 1980s - and why, once again, they've reclaimed that crown."^[6]

AllMusic, however, were more critical of the release, deeming the album "merely adequate" and decrying the band's decision to avoid using the original versions of songs featuring Paul Di'Anno on lead vocals.^[3]

All songs written by Steve Harris, except where noted.

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.^[1]

Iron Maiden

Bruce Dickinson - lead vocals
Steve Harris - bass guitar, keyboards on 10 & 12
Dave Murray - guitars
Adrian Smith - guitars, keyboards on 10 & 12
Nicko McBrain - drums on tracks 2 - 5, 9 - 13 & 15
Clive Burr - drums on tracks 6 - 8 & 14

Production

^ ^a ^b Somewhere Back in Time (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 12 May 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Bowar, Chad. "Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time Review". About.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^ ^a ^b Monger, James Christopher. Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time at AllMusic. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
^ ^a ^b Lawson, Dom (June 2008). "Any old Iron". Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
^ ^a ^b Ruskell, Nick (10 May 2008). "Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
^ ^a ^b Dome, Malcolm (June 2008). "Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
^ Fraser, Lewis (1 May 2008). "Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Rocksound. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 138.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^ "Ultratop.be – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^ "Ultratop.be – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Iron Maiden: Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "時空の覇者". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
^ "Charts.nz – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
^ "Spanishcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Iron Maiden | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Mexicancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ "Greekcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Iron Maiden" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back In Time: The Best Of". Radioscope. Retrieved 8 January 2025. Type Somewhere Back In Time: The Best Of in the "Search:" field.
^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2008" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
^ "British album certifications – Iron Maiden – Somewhere Back In Time - The Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 September 2024.